The possibility of security guards participating in a national strike might be sooner than expected as the South AfricanPrivate Security Workers Union (SAPSWU) reached yet another deadlock with the security employers. Workers together with employers met again for wage negotiation at the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) on 8th November, however, majority of employees rejected the offer that was offered by security companies.
“We met with the employers however, our people are not happy about the wage negotiations that they recently came from. The employers are offering for the first year a basic salary of R4 596 plus a premium of R140 amounting to R4 746 per month which is 8.43 percent increase, second year salary is R4 826 plus R310 premium amounting to R5 146 per month which is 8.2 percent and lastly the third year basic salary of R5 067, R433 premium plus R100 hospitality cover amounting to R5 600 which is 8.2 percent salary increase,” said Vernon Ratshili General Secretary of SAPSWU.
Currently, unions are seeking a mandate from the workers, at the same time unions are identifying areas of picketing in all nine provinces. Furthermore, each union shall conduct balloting to its members before the national strike, and SAPSWU added that they will further communicate with its shop stewards about picketing and balloting arrangements. “Unions will meet at CCMA within two weeks for picketing and balloting feedback meeting,” concluded Ratshili.
